Factors Influencing Self-Employment Intentions Among TEVET Engineering Graduates in Zambia: A Review

Alex Muzano Kayolo  Simumba; Austin  Mwange

doi:10.59413/eafj/v3.i2.12

Authors

Alex Muzano Kayolo Simumba The University of Zambia, Institute of Distance Education, Lusaka, Zambia Author
Austin Mwange University of Zambia, Graduate School of Business, Lusaka, Zambia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8568-3063

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59413/eafj/v3.i2.12

Keywords:

Self-employment intentions, TEVET, engineering graduates, entrepreneurship education, Ndola District, Zambia

Abstract

Self-employment has emerged as a critical pathway for addressing unemployment among Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) graduates in Zambia. This review article examines the factors influencing self-employment intentions among TEVET engineering graduates, particularly those from Northern Technical College (NORTEC) in Ndola District. The study is anchored on the Theory of Entrepreneurial Competency, which highlights the significance of both personal and contextual factors in entrepreneurial intentions. Key determinants identified include contextual, institutional, and psychological factors, whereas demographic and social factors exhibit minimal influence. The findings underscore the need for targeted policy interventions aimed at improving entrepreneurship education, access to startup capital, and the overall entrepreneurial ecosystem for TEVET graduates in Zambia. This review contributes to the discourse on youth self-employment and provides practical implications for policymakers, educators, and business development stakeholders.

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